Root fertilizer



Patented Apr. l5, 1924.

STATES FRANK B. VAN DE VEL-DE, 0F GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN.

ROOT FEBTILIZEB.

Application niet August s, 1922. serial mi. 580,472'.

To all whom it may cof/wem.'

Be it known that l, FRANK B. VAN DE Venne, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Green Bay, in the county of Brown and Statev of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful improvements in Root Fertilizers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to root fertilizers.

rlhe general object of this invention is the provision of a simple and eilicient device for positioning in the ground, through which nourishment may be conveyed to plant life.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for conveying nourishment to the roots of plant life provided with means for removing used fertilizer to allow of the introduction of fresh fertilizer.

'lhese objects are accomplished by the provision of a perforated tube, removably mounting in said perforated tube an adjust able bottom for supporting the fertilizer, said bottom being provided with means for removing it from the tube, and mounting on the tube a cap provided with a covered opening through which a hose may be inserted These and other objects of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing root fertilizers positioned in the ground in the vicinity of the roots of a tree;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the root fertilizer;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through 'the root fertilizer showing the bottomv partly drawn up the tube, removing the used fer tilizer; and

Figure d is a top plan view of the root fertilizer.

Referring to the above mentioned drawings, a tube 10, open at both ends, is provided with a plurality of perforations 11 which slope downward toward the outside surface of the tube. These perforations are of greater area at the outside vsurface of the tube than at the inside surface. liternovably mounted in the fertilizer is a bottom 12, to which a cone-shaped standard 13 is attached. Formed on the upper end of the cone-shaped standard 13 is an eye 1d with which any hook or the like may be engaged for removing the bottom from the tube. The bottom 12 supports the fertilizer 15 at any level in the tube 10.

A cover 16, having an opening 18 in its upper end which is closed by means of a cap 17 hinged to the body of the cover, is mounted on the upper end of the tube 10. This coved 16 is removably mounted on the tube so that it may be conveniently removed when it is desired to remove the bottom 12.

When a device of this type is used for conveymg nourishment to roots of plant life particularly trees, it is buried in the ground near the ends of the tree roots. As shown in Figure 1, the device is positioned in the gronund so that the upper end of the cover 16 is just slightly below the surface of the ground. After the tube 10 has been placed in position the bottom 12 is projected down into the tube, as shown in Figure 2. lf it is desired to prevent the fertilizer 15 from saturating the soil below the tube then a certain amount of soil is packed in on the bottom l2 before the tube is filled with fertilizer. After the tube has been filled with fertilizer, the cover 16 is placed in position and sods 19 and 20 are positioned about it serving to protect it.

The nourishment from the fertilizer finds its way through the perforations 11 into the soil and is absorbed by the roots of the trees. lln order to more rapidly convey the nourishment from the fertilizer to the trees the device may be filled with water. rllhe water may be introduced through the open ing 18. After the fertilizer has lost its strength it may be removed by removing the cover 16 and drawing the bottom 12 upward, forcin the fertilizer out over the top of the groun as shown in Figure 3.

l would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, ll do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims..

Claims:

1. lln a device of the character described, an elongated receptacle adapted to retain a liquid and also adapted to be imbedded in the earth, said receptacle having its walls provided with orifices extending at an an le to the longitudinal anis of the recepten e,

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and each orifice increasing in diameter toward its outer end, for the purpose described. Y

2. A device of the character described, comprising a perforated cylindrical membeil and an elongated conical member nsertible in said cylindrical member andhavmg. its base formed with a flange adapted to form a tight lit with the interiorsurface of said perforated cylindrical member.

3'. A device of the character described comprising a perforated cylindrical member and an elongated conical member nsertible in said cylindrical member and having its tapered protrusion extending from the outer surface thereof5 .and a #second cap hinged to the protrusion adapted to 4form a :closure therefor.

' FRANK B. VAN DE VELDE. 

